REPORTS OF MEETINGS FOR 1910 151 



that it is unnecessary to allude to its leading features, except 

 to say how greatly the frustration of his wish — " I hope I 

 may be able to conduct the Club once more on this occasion " — 

 was deplored by every one, the members, after a drive of more 

 than an hour and a half, reached the modern arcaded village 

 of Belsay, and proceeding along an approach, fringed with 

 Scots Fir and Oak, were received at the mansion- 

 Belsay. house by Sir Arthur E. Middleton, Bart., who 



expressed his regret that owing to household 

 exigencies he was unable to extend any form of hospitality. 

 His courteous reception of the party, however, and keen interest 

 in the meeting, together with his anxiety that nothing of concern 

 to the membei-s should be overlooked, more than counterbalanced 

 any disappointment that might have been occasioned by the 

 lack of opportunity to view the interior of his stately residence. 

 As far remote as 1240, the manor of Belsay was in the 

 possession of one of his name, Richard de Middleton, who in 

 1270 became Chancellor to Henry III. In 1318, it was 

 forfeited for rebellion against Edward II., and granted for 

 life to John de Crumbewell, Constable of the Tower of London. 

 At his death it passed to Sir John de Strivelyn, one of the 

 generals of Edward III., who settled it to devolve, after his 

 own and his wife's death, upon Sir John de Middleton, believed 

 to have been of the family who forfeited the estates, as he 

 bore the same coat of arms. It descended to the present owner 

 through his grandfather, Sir Charles Monck, under whose 

 direction the present mansion, modelled after the purest 

 examples of Grecian architecture, was erected. Fashioned in 

 a square, it occupies the site of a former chapel of the same 

 name, which is mentioned as being without curate and church- 

 wardens from 1578-1586. From the spacious terraces that 

 surround it and are artistically laid out in plots of herbaceous 

 plants and low growing shrubs, a charming view of the Lake 

 and Crags lying to the South- West was obtained, a large number 

 of noble forest-trees studding the intervening meadows. For 

 the time being, however, the attention of members was directed 

 to the flower-borders, in which a remarkable variety of Heaths, 

 including St. Dabeoc's (Menziesia polifolia) in several distinct 

 colours, were blooming in exquisite profusion- In more sheltered 

 V 



